Swimming question

MyBabeMaddie wrote: When did you notice your child not afraid to go underwater? Not like hold their breath and swim under water... But if they were to jump off the side of the pool and you were standing there waiting to catch them, they might go under for a second... When did you notice them being okay with that? Sorry if this is poorly worded Madison is jumping on me.

MyBlueEyedBabies replied: For Katy it was at 4. Once she decided that we really weren't going to let her drown she was cool with it. It is also when she decided that she could swim (she cant... and unfortunately has NO fear of the water) Matt still wont let go of his noodle and the side of the pool.

MommyToAshley replied: Ashley would put her head under last year (age 4), but didn't like to. She could swim (doggie paddle) but she would do her best to stick her chin out as far as she could to keep from getting her face and head wet. This year (age 5), she doesn't mind going under and is even trying to learn to swim under water.

luvmykids replied: whoops, posted twice

luvmykids replied: The twins started early, they've never been afraid of the water, but Macie wouldn't get in unless someone was holding her until this summer when they took swim lessons, she's 4.

mysweetpeasWil&Wes replied: Wesley just turned two. We were in the pool yesterday and he had no fear putting his head under. He can't swim yet either! Wil is almost four and he is the opposite. Holds onto your neck like a cat in water. Both boys are getting swim lessons as soon as my MIL gets it going (she's paying).

Calimama replied: Miabella jumps in from the side all the time.. sometimes when we aren't ready to catch her. She has one of those swimsuit life jackets though.

My3LilMonkeys replied: Brooke is just now getting into it at 4. Madison has been putting her face in the water off and on since she was 2 - sometimes she's happy with it, other times it upsets her.

luvbug00 replied: Mya was 7 and my saving grace i can sum up in two words.... SWIM LESSONS!
swim lessons + fearless peers = childs untaped potential. Mya couldn't swin under over or any kinda way until lessons and now she's hopping off the diving board. all in less then 10 lessons.

mom21kid2dogs replied: As you can see kids are all very different in their response to the water. If you are wanting to encourage it and she's afraid, make it a game. Blow bubbles, use a toy to hold it under the water and have her try to get it, see if she prefers goggles, etc. O was never afraid of water. She always put her head under water~even in the bathtub. She always loved to duck under. My nephews are 5 & 4 (both just had b'days) and are much more fearful of the water. Both started jumping into the pool this year. They both duck under and the 4 yo is better about it than the 5 yo.

AlexsPajamaMama replied: This year, at age 4, Alex has been wearing goggles and putting his face in the water. He wears a life jacket in the pool and can do the doggy paddle. He has no fear this year and when he jumps in and goes under for a second he doesnt care.

Brias3 replied: All three of my kids have been fearless around the water since very young. Our house now has an inground pool and when we first moved in, Mason was 2 and COMPLETELY ready to jump in at any moment so I had to be extremely careful.

All three of my kids have been enrolled in swim lessons, around the ocean, and in boats from an early age though, so I think that's helped to ease the fear, being around water so much.

gr33n3y3z replied:
My kids were never scared of water either they were always like little fish but
Cheryl has very good advice

stella6979 replied: Avery will put her face in the water when she's in the bath or her kiddie pool, but once we get into a big pool, she wants nothing to do with it. She is a little fish though....and loves to swim.

mom21kid2dogs replied:
That's just how O has always been. I'd have lost my mind if we had an inground pool! I still drain our backyard pool after each use.

Crystalina replied: Evan has to be told not to stay under so long!

Izabella still won't go under. She'll go as far as her chest.